The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination
The last week has been overshadowed by the unfortunate, and possibly career ending, injury to the New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera.
Rivera is a future hall of famer with 12 All Star appearances and 5 World Series wins on his illustrious record. If Rivera cannot recover from his injury, tears to his right anterior crucial ligament and his meniscus, it will be unfitting. Without doubt, Rivera’s season is over but he’s determined to be back. “I’m not going down like this” said Rivera who was anticipated to retire at the end of this season. The accident happened during batting practice at Kauffman Stadium which, ironically, will host the All Star Game in July. A career like Rivera’s shouldn’t end in a crumpled mess during batting practice and I hope that he’s back to pitch again.
It seems that injuries are dominating the news currently as the latest high profile casualty is Washington Nationals right fielder, Jayson Werth. Werth broke his wrist attempting a sliding catch against the Philadelphia Phillies. What is worrying for Werth is that it is the same wrist that he broke in 2005. It was that injury that caused complications that meant he missed the 2006 season. The Nationals will be weakened by Werth’s absence as he’s a cohesive force for them.
This week has witnessed the second no hitter of the season. The Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver just offered up a walk and a baserunner to stifle the Minnesota Twins in a 9-0 rout. It was the 10th time in Angels history that a no hitter had occurred and, spookily, team mate C.J. Wilson told Weaver to throw a no hitter the week previously. Weaver was runner up in the AL Cy Young Award ballot last year so his achievement shouldn’t be unexpected. The great part of the story, for me, is that Weaver had an emergency toilet break immediately before pitching the 9th inning. I guess that, in the same position, we’d all head to the toilet before the 9th!
Further good news for the Angels is that Albert Pujols has finally found his hitting bat and claimed his first home run of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. It’s obvious that the weight of expectation on Pujols is affecting his form. I feel that the expectation is weighing heavily on the baseball club too. His contract is worth over $250 million and the Angels are betting on Pujols to fire. Hopefully for both, and baseball, Pujols can regain his form.
Up to the weekend, the Rays were the number two team in the Power Rankings and sitting atop the American League East division. However, a series loss to the ‘A’s’ at the seemingly impenetrable fortress of Tropicana Field has halted that progress. Back to back road series against the Yankees, Orioles and Blue Jays will test the mettle of Joe Maddon and the Rays further. I’ve worried about the pitching from day one, and both Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore struggled in the recent losses. Starters James Shields and David Price need the bullpen to back them up if the Rays are to find their form again.
